Mean Green Upset Bid Falls Just Short to No. 5 Oklahoma

North Texas Holds History-Chasing Chamberlain in Check in Losing Effort

NORMAN, Okla. -- Facing one of the nation's most elite programs at their home field seemed like a daunting task for a young North Texas squad. However, it was one the Mean Green was nearly up, losing an early advantage to eventually fall, 6-3, in narrow fashion.

No. 5 Oklahoma looked to take control early, jumping on North Texas with two early runs in its first at bat. After a Shelby Pendley double, Sooners' Erin Miller sent a deep shot over the right field wall for a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

After loading the bases in the top of the first but failing to score, the Mean Green did not back down, and immediately went to work responding in the ensuing at bat. A Kelli Schkade leadoff single and a Karly Williams walk put enough pressure on the OU defense to force a run-scoring error on a Jen Bearsley ground ball to second base.

The Mean Green weren't finished, adding two more in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead, shocking a nearly sold out Sooner crowd. Back-to-back one-out singles from North Texas catchers Shelbie Smith and Bryana Wade combined with a Schkade walk loaded the bases for the second time in the first three innings. Karly Williams picked up an RBI the easy way, wearing the first pitch to her, before senior Dani Hoff sent a single back up the middle for the second run.

Oklahoma then fought back to tie the game on a Paige Parker two-out single to left that just barely dropped in to shallow left field. Three pitches later the Sooners retook the lead, 5-3, on a two-run homer to right center, the second long ball of the game. OU added an insurance run thanks to a North Texas error in the bottom of the sixth.

The most impressive takeaway from the game is the way the youthful Mean Green pitching staff responded to the task of taking on one of the nation's best hitters, Lauren Chamberlain. The Oklahoma senior entered the night with 90 career home runs, looking for one more to set the NCAA all-time career record. History will have to wait for another night and another opponent however, as North Texas held her to 1 for 3 with two fly outs and a walk, her only hit being a shallow double to left field.

Next Up:

North Texas will continue a string of non-conference matchups with a midweek doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin. The Mean Green will play host to SFA on Wednesday, April 22 at Lovelace Stadium in Denton. First pitch of game one is set for 3:00 p.m. CT.

Quick Hits:

After the loss in Norman, North Texas is still looking for its first win over Oklahoma in program history. Currently 0-24 against the Sooners, the Mean Green will get another crack at history in just 10 days with a home matchup scheduled for April 30.

In 2015, North Texas is now 3-2 against Big 12 opponents. Wins include Oklahoma State and then-No. 7 Baylor. Losses include then No. 13 Baylor and No. 5 Oklahoma. The Mean Green still has three more games against Big 12 opponents left on the slate (doubleheader at OSU on April 29).

Monday night's game provided just the second time North Texas has faced the nation's fifth-ranked team in program history. After falling to No. 5 OU, the Mean Green is 0-2 (8-0 run-rule loss to No. 5 Texas in 2011).

Senior pitcher Madison Thompson has now picked up the loss in each of the last two meetings between North Texas and Oklahoma. Thompson pitched a gem in Norman last season, but still fell short by the same exact deficit in a 3-0 defeat to the Sooners.